IFA Pigs Chairman Criticises Absence of Retaliers
IRELAND - IFA National Pig and Pigmeat Committee Chairman Tim Cullinan has said he was very disappointed that neither Dunnes nor Musgraves attended a meeting set up by the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to address the ongoing crisis in the pig industry. Tesco was the only retailer that accepted the invitation.The meeting was also attended by primary and secondary processors.
Mr Cullinan said, “This meeting was an important opportunity to address a number of issues that are affecting the pigmeat food chain, not least the loss-making situation that pig farmers find themselves in. Minister Coveney’s initiative needs the support of all the major retailers if it is to succeed and return pig production to profitability. The absence of Dunnes and Musgraves puts a question mark over their commitment to supporting local producers. At the meeting, Tesco made the point that their research shows that Irish consumers are very keen to have Irish pork and bacon on supermarket shelves.“